TIME OUT NEW YORK, Raven Snook

DOWNTOWN MAGAZINE

"The musical soars... you can almost feel the audience melt... a spectacular evening of theatre."

THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE, Buzz Belmont

"There is a great big nostalgic step back into the 60's, 70's and 80's happening in a fantastic way at New World Stages as the sultry, sexy, soulful Dusty Springfield comes alive. Kirsten Holly Smith & Jonathan Vankin have written the most mesmerizing, breathtaking, dazzling biographical musical since Jersey Boys."

"Kirsten Holly Smith's memorable, authentic, brilliant and phenomenal tour de force breathing authenticity, life, and soul into one of the singing legends that so many of us grew up with!"

"This is one show that I wish I had time to see again. I have not ceased telling everyone I know to go see this fabulous musical."

"Seriously ladies and gentleman, Forever Dusty is the best little Off — Broadway show of the season, so run to get your tickets and take everyone you love to the best bio musical on the New York stage"

Lisa Lampanelli, Comedy Central

"Forever Dusty is spectacular!... The show is terrific, the sing-a-long a blast, & the cast, crew & band the best! BRAVO!"

Douglas Rushkoff, author of Present Shock and CNN Correspondent

"Forever Dusty revives the spirit of a music industry still brimming with hope and possibility. When a pop star's image emerged from within instead of being manufactured by marketer. Dusty Springfield wasn't just born that way - she lived that way. And Kirsten Holly Smith both summons and comments on Dusty simultaneously, in an amazing, heartfelt, generous, and inspiring performance. This is a revival in the truest sense of the word, for Dusty and for anyone who still has soul."

QUEERTY.COM

"Mega-talented Kirsten Holly Smith not only conceived the musical, but gives a knockout performance... We caught the show last week, and we all we can say is: Go!"

HEEBMAGAZINE.COM

"Forever Dusty, the new off-Broadway musical biopic of Dusty Springfield, hits like a concentrated blast of pop candy… balances the luscious lightness of the music with the heavy human struggles."

PEREZ HILTON

"IF YOU LIKE JERSEY BOYS, THEN YOU WILL LOVE FOREVER DUSTY!"

"Songs you know and a life story that is told with equal parts HUMOR AND HEART!"

THEATERMANIA, Brian Scott Lipton

"Star Kirsten Holly Smith is an on stage talent to be reckon with!"

BACKSTAGE, Mac Miller

"Kirsten Holly Smith BELTS IT OUT OF THE PARK."

"Songs you know and a life story that is told with equal parts HUMOR AND HEART!"

IRISH CENTRAL

"Completely irresistible. I defy anyone to attend this captivating musical drama and fail to be transported."

RESIDENT MAGAZINE

"Kirsten Holly Smith has a tremendous voice. Barry Manilow may wrote the songs, but Smith as Dusty definitely sings them."

CURTAIN UP, Deirdre Donovan

"Forever Dusty is a tuneful homage to the legendary British performer, Dusty Springfield.".

"A bittersweet portrait of the blue-eyed Soul singer."

Annie Randall, author of "Dusty: Queen of the Postmods"

"Forever Dusty goes much farther than any other Dusty show I have seen in portraying the singer's 30-year career and the emotional roller coaster that was her life. The script weaves Dusty's hit songs cleverly into the biographical story line; Kirsten Holly Smith delivers them with exciting authority and, most importantly, sings with the genuine soul sound that distinguished Dusty from her Britpop contemporaries and earned the respect of Motown's stars. The show covers a lot of ground in under two hours; it paints a vivid picture of Dusty's colorful, sometimes sensational life and the unique musical talent that produced pop songs that still sound fresh after forty years. Bravo to Smith and Vankin for bringing Dusty to life so richly for a new generation of fans."

GALO Magazine

"Smith has a voice to reach the rafters, and the verve and versatility in pitch do justice to Dusty's hits."

FLAVORPILL.COM, John Peacock

"The rare jukebox musical with depth.... As Dusty, Kirsten Holly Smith thrillingly channels the passion and the pain."

Behind the Scenes With a Music Icon

STAGE VIEWS: Forever Dusty Star Sean Patrick Hopkins

January 19, 2013

Playbill.com's series features actors commenting on their recent theatregoing experiences, what productions they are looking forward to and more. Here we hear from singing actor Sean Patrick Hopkins, who plays Tom Springfield in the new biographical musical Forever Dusty, about the life of the late soul singer Dusty Springfield, at Off-Broadway's New World Stages.

Fox5 Good Day NY

January 8, 2013

Forever Dusty stars Kirsten Holly Smith and Christina Sajous appeared on Fox5's "Good Day New York" show where they gave an interview & sang a rocking mash-up of "Tell Him" and "Son of a Preacher Man."

Catching Up With Kirsten Holly Smith for 'Forever Dusty'

STAGE VIEWS: Forever Dusty Star Christina Sajous

December 15, 2012

Playbill.com's series features actors commenting on their recent theatregoing experiences, what productions they are looking forward to and more. Here, via email, we hear from Christina Sajous, who co-stars in Forever Dusty — the new musical by Kirsten Holly Smith and Jonathan Vankin about the life of late singer Dusty Springfield — which is now playing Off-Broadway's New World Stages.

Dusty Springfield Musical's Kirsten Holly Smith On Adapting The Life Of A Complex Legend

December 14, 2012

Most people think of the classic album "Dusty in Memphis" if they think of Dusty Springfield at all. But Kirsten Holly Smith and Jonathan Vankin are working to expand the unique soul sensation's legacy with an off-Broadway musical, "Forever Dusty."

A Dusty Road to Springfield

November 29, 2012

"Dusty Springfield, remember her - that sexy songstress of the swinging 60s and beyond that at her peak, had six top 20 singles on Billboard's Hot 100? With her blue-eyed soul sound, her vulnerable, heartbreaking urgency was so singular that songwriter Burt Bacharach would remark, "You could hear just three notes and you knew it was Dusty." Add the beehive hairdo, 'panda eyed' mascara and evening gowns to take the breath away - is it any wonder then when Kirsten Holly Smith in the world premiere of Forever Dusty at New World Stages sings "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me," we want to answer her with "oh, but we do, we do!""

"Forever Dusty goes much farther than any other Dusty show I have seen in portraying the singer's 30-year career and the emotional roller coaster that was her life. The script weaves Dusty's hit songs cleverly into the biographical story line; Kirsten Holly Smith delivers them with exciting authority and, most importantly, sings with the genuine soul sound that distinguished Dusty from her Britpop contemporaries and earned the respect of Motown's stars. The show covers a lot of ground in under two hours; it paints a vivid picture of Dusty's colorful, sometimes sensational life and the unique musical talent that produced pop songs that still sound fresh after forty years. Bravo to Smith and Vankin for bringing Dusty to life so richly for a new generation of fans."

Forever Dusty

November 27, 2012

The rare jukebox musical with depth, Forever Dusty follows the career of Irish soul legend Dusty Springfield over four decades.

Dusty a Go-Go!

Perez Reviews: Forever Dusty

November 19, 2012

What drives someone to spend 5 years developing a show? The answer is clearly... passion! And that passion for the subject material - both the person and the songs - is clear in Forever Dusty, a new biographical musical about the late Dusty Springfield by the very gifted Kirsten Holly Smith.

The world premiere of Forever Dusty, a new musical about the life and times of legendary icon Dusty Springfield, by Kirsten Holly Smith and Jonathan Vankin, begins performances November 11, 2012 at New World Stages.

Forever Dusty, a new musical by Kirsten Holly Smith and Jonathan Vankin about the life of late singer Dusty Springfield, begins previews at Off-Broadway's New World Stages Nov. 11 with an official opening set for Nov. 18.